The pitch-black gas instantly enveloped Yhwach, making him look as if he had been swallowed by black flames.
However, Ishikawa's face showed no relief; instead, he stared intently at the changes happening to Yhwach.
This was just a temporary sealing method Ishikawa had come up with. Ishikawa wasn't sure if extracting the Almighty from Yhwach through his Kokumei analysis could seal its owner.
Moreover, Ishikawa's analysis of the Almighty was incomplete.
But one thing he could be certain of was that Yhwach's existence was somewhat similar to the Squad Zero. Their immortality was tied to a certain substance; as long as that substance was not destroyed, they would not die.
The only difference was...
During the period of his open eyes, what was connected to Yhwach was not the detached palaces of the Squad Zero members, but the Three Realms!
If Yhwach's Almighty could not be temporarily nullified, then causing the Three Realms to collapse and revert to their original state would be the best time to eliminate Yhwach, provided one could survive the destruction of the Three Realms.
It felt as if the very meaning of 'Yhwach's' creation was simply to destroy the Three Realms.
There was destruction, but also hope that existed only in this era...
It was as if someone had planned everything but left the ending open, entrusting the decision of the outcome to those involved.
"Did it succeed?"
Captain-Commander Yamamoto came to Ishikawa's side, his aged eyes fixed intently on Yhwach's location.
Although he did not exhibit the 'Almighty' that Ishikawa spoke of, the Yhwach before him still felt unfamiliar compared to his memory.
A thousand years...
Even while in a state of slumber during these nearly one thousand years, the constantly recovered soul fragments still allowed Yhwach's abilities to continuously improve.
"Uncertain."
Ishikawa shook his head. At this moment, Yhwach was completely enveloped in the black mist. Although the aura was controlled by Ishikawa, its true master was not Ishikawa.
But now, both of them could only watch. Without knowing whether he was sealed, a rash attack might instead break the seal. Moreover, Yhwach's words, 'there is no future in this battle where I die,' were not empty words, but an inevitable reality!
"It succeeded!"
Suddenly, these three words entered Ishikawa and Captain-Commander Yamamoto's ears, making both of their expressions tighten.
"Before the last nine days of the song arrive, your sealing method is indeed enough to temporarily incapacitate me, but... as I said, from the very beginning, I have been invincible in this battle."
Yhwach's voice came from all directions, making it impossible to pinpoint its origin.
But the meaning revealed in his words made Ishikawa and Captain-Commander Yamamoto simultaneously look up at the sky.
At this moment, both of them clearly felt...
Someone was coming!
Descending from above, a point could vaguely be seen rapidly expanding overhead.
And almost at the same time...
Ishikawa let out a muffled grunt, his body swaying slightly. The incredibly powerful Reiatsu around him, like the moon in water, collapsed instantly.
Time reversal had begun.
The rapid dissipation of his spiritual body made Ishikawa's face turn pale, and his brain felt an unbearable sense of dizziness constantly assailing him at this moment.
At the same time...
It got dark!
A handsome young man with blonde hair and blue eyes slowly approached from the distance.
Captain-Commander Yamamoto, who was observing Ishikawa's state, subconsciously turned his head. The moment he saw the young man, a burst of black energy suddenly surged from the cross emblem in his hand.
The moment he felt that energy, Ishikawa gritted his teeth, and a transparent barrier with Reiatsu Crest emerged around him.
However...
Crack~
A sound like shattering glass echoed, and the transparent barrier instantly collapsed on its own. At the same time, Ishikawa's spiritual body also collapsed.
The next second, the scorching aura beside him suddenly vanished. Captain-Commander Yamamoto's Flame Robe instantly disintegrated, revealing his charred body and aged face. At this moment, he looked like an ordinary old man, no longer the Captain-Commander of the Gotei 13.
But then...
Flames erupted again, and a sharp glint flashed in Captain-Commander Yamamoto's eyes.
"Matsumae!"
Endless flames erupted, and a tornado-shaped wall of fire instantly enveloped the blonde-haired young man.
Being deprived of Bankai did not mean he couldn't fight.
At the very least, he had to drag out the fight until those people overhead arrived!
It's just that...
"It's useless."
Yhwach's voice sounded again: "After dark, I will fall into slumber, and Haschwalth, as my other half, will exchange powers with me."
The process was not important; the outcome was!
The scene before them, and this incredibly opportune timing, were just as he had foreseen; everything was unfolding according to a predetermined outcome.
Boom...
Just then, a streaking light, like a meteor, descended from the sky, instantly piercing through the Soul Society's barrier and rapidly falling towards Squad Nine.
"Your Majesty!"
Haschwalth's figure flashed, appearing beside Yhwach. He first glanced at the pillar of light above, then looked at Ishikawa, who was being protected by Captain-Commander Yamamoto.
Now was undoubtedly the best time to eliminate Ishikawa!
"It is not yet advisable to engage the Squad Zero, and there is no need for regret."
"Yes."
Haschwalth responded, and then the black flames of the Schatten Bereich rose up throughout the Seireitei, enveloping the Sternritter members scattered across the Seireitei.
"Yamamoto Genryusai, Ishikawa, I look forward to seeing you again."
Amidst Yhwach's laughter, the gigantic Heavenly Pillar descended. Although its arrival caused a great commotion, its landing felt eerily silent.
Amidst the smoke, the massive pillar slowly opened from within, and faintly, five figures emerged from the smoke.
"No, for Ishikawa, there won't be a next time."
Yhwach's voice was filled with mockery and derision: "Of course, my promise still stands: your tombstone will remain in the new world!"
Ishikawa did not speak, or rather, at this moment, it was incredibly difficult for him even to open his eyes. An irresistible dizziness kept coming, and the effects of time reversal were simply not something that could be resisted by willpower.
Vision!
After the Heavenly Pillar opened, Ishikawa clearly felt the gaze of one of the five individuals, not looking at the departing Yhwach, but fixed on himself.
Yhwach 'watched' Ishikawa; Ishikawa's fate was already sealed.
Without Ishikawa, it wouldn't have been difficult for him to usurp Captain-Commander Yamamoto's Bankai. The reason he chose this specific moment to usurp his Bankai was simply to extinguish Ishikawa's last shred of hope!
It's just that...
"Huh? Tombstone!?"
Suddenly, a mocking laugh entered everyone's ears.
Then...
Zing—!
The void trembled. Around Ishikawa, the void suddenly opened up into gaping mouths, a scene that looked as if the void, constructed of bricks, had had bricks pulled out, revealing the dark and deep passages behind it.
From the dark passages, figures emerged, positioning themselves around Ishikawa.
Harribel, Starrk, Nel, Ulquiorra, Grimmjow, Picaro... one by one, Arrancar carrying terrifying auras came to Ishikawa's side.
And also...
Cirucci, pushing a chair, slowly stopped behind Ishikawa!
The arrival of these individuals caused a flicker of surprise in everyone's eyes, including Ishikawa.
Yhwach looked at the Arrancar forming a circle, guarding Ishikawa, and the black mist around him trembled slightly.
"Ishikawa-sama, I wasn't late this time, was I?"
Just then, four more people emerged from the black passage: Urahara, Ichigo, Orihime, and Chad. The one who spoke was Urahara, who led the way.
"That sliver of hope found in desperation is the variable."
Meeting Ishikawa's gaze, Urahara waved his hand, fanning his fan a few times. His tone was still mischievous, but his words revealed a sense of determination: "But this variable doesn't necessarily have to be fought for by oneself."
With that, he glanced at the Heavenly Pillar at the end of the street:
"This time, it seems my timing is excellent."
"Heh~"
Ishikawa grinned, then his body swayed backward. With that smile, he completely fell into a deep sleep.
But before Ishikawa could fall, a pale hand already supported him, gently and as if afraid of disturbing his slumber, placing him onto the large stone chair.
"Ishikawa-sama—"
Seeing this, Ichigo, who was behind Urahara, instinctively moved forward to check Ishikawa's condition.
"He's fine, it's just the side effect of the time reversal in the Dangai. You should be the most familiar with that feeling."
Urahara held Ichigo's shoulder and gently shook his head:
"It's better not to approach that area rashly right now!"
"Hmm?"
Ichigo, hearing this, looked up with some confusion, and then a strange glint flashed in his eyes.
Looking around, he saw that the Arrancar surrounding Ishikawa, after he fell unconscious, all showed a wary expression in their eyes. At this moment, terrifying Reiatsu fluctuations rapidly surged around them, and purple patterns appeared on the skin of all the Arrancar.
Causing their forms to slowly change.
On the throne, the black-haired young man with closed eyes, emitting slight snores, a faint smile curving his lips;
Below the throne, the Arrancar, with wary expressions, surging Reiatsu, and cold yet resolute looks;
Everything seemed so quiet, but at the same time...
One could clearly feel the fury hidden beneath the calm!
The Arrancar surrounding the young man formed a barrier with their Reiatsu, isolating the entire space where the young man was from the outside world.
And behind this area, a huge rift was slowly pulled open, with boundless rolling black mud halted, poised for action.
Everyone who witnessed this scene felt a certain sensation.
Anyone who touched that barrier at this moment would activate the fury hidden beneath the calm, unleashing everything, even their lives, to retaliate against all targets in their sight!
This scene was like the calm before a storm.
"Urahara, Ichigo!"
Yhwach and Haschwalth's figures vanished, only their gloomy voices reverberating above everyone.
Urahara covered his chin with his folding fan, looking at the spot where Yhwach disappeared, a strange glint in his eyes.
And among the five people who emerged from the Heavenly Pillar, one of them cast his gaze towards Urahara.
That was a tall, burly figure standing at the front of the five, bald, with very thick eyebrows and a beard reaching his chest. His gaze was calm, yet it subtly conveyed to Urahara that its owner was currently very annoyed.
"Greetings, esteemed sirs, long time no see."
Urahara smiled: "The situation just now was a bit inappropriate, my apologies for any offense... Oh, by the way, the Seireitei's warrant for my arrest has been canceled, which is why I can stand here openly and greet you all."
The monk leading them retracted his gaze, then a hearty laugh appeared on his face:
"Hahaha, this scene is truly a bit strange."
Behind him, the man with a pompadour ending in a hook shape and a straw in his mouth frowned as he looked at the Arrancar: "Not only Quincy, but now Arrancar can also freely move around the Seireitei?"
At these words, Captain-Commander Yamamoto, who had already retreated to the side when the Arrancar arrived, glanced at the man and slowly spoke:
"The duty of the Royal Guard is to protect the Soul King Palace; the work of the Gotei 13 is to protect the Seireitei."
Captain-Commander Yamamoto's Zanpakuto slowly transformed into a cane, tapping the ground. His aged eyes opened a slit:
"The safety of the Seireitei is what the Gotei 13, which I lead, should consider. It would be better for you all to focus on your own duties."
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh...
As he finished speaking, sounds of rushing air came from all directions, and figures appeared behind Captain-Commander Yamamoto.
"Gotei?"
The pompadour man chuckled, looking around: "Is this what you call 'Gotei'?"
"Heh heh, the Squad Zero is still the same as ever."
Captain-Commander Yamamoto did not speak. Shunsui, behind him, chuckled at the five members of the Squad Zero and said: "Although the damage is quite severe, as long as there are no casualties among the personnel, the buildings can be rebuilt at any time, after all..."
"The word 'Gotei' refers not to buildings, but to people!"
Shunsui finished speaking and looked at the monk leading them: "Monk, as far as I know, we did not request assistance from the Squad Zero. May I ask what brings you here?"
Bang—!
Hearing this, just as the pompadour man was about to say something, a hand chop landed on his head.
"Ow!"
The monk stood behind the pompadour man, his face still bearing a hearty smile: "Don't misunderstand, we are merely here by the Soul King's command to assist the Gotei 13, and then on our way back, we will conveniently take some people to the Soul King Palace to help develop their powers and prepare more fully for the upcoming battle."
"Now that the battle has ended, let's prepare for the next objective."
With that, the monk paused his words, his gaze sweeping across the crowd behind Captain-Commander Yamamoto: "Byakuya, Rukia, Abarai Renji... you three, plus Ichigo, please come with us."
"In the Soul King Palace, there are unique court spiritual arts that can maximize the excavation of your hidden powers."
The monk looked at Captain-Commander Yamamoto: "With Captain-Commander Yamamoto's Bankai having been stolen, it is very necessary to awaken your powers!"
"What?"
Everyone, hearing this, couldn't help but look at Captain-Commander Yamamoto.
Captain-Commander Yamamoto slightly closed his eyes, then nodded:
"Very well."